h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

If your interested read on -

Firstly do need to panic, keep it simple and do what you want to.

We created a spreadsheet and wrote headings for each part that we could think of.

Then put estimated costs, most of these we took off the top of our heads and we were not that far off!

Now run around researching real costs, discuss ideas about the dress (yes men you should talk to her about it!), the grooms suit, flowers, etc.

Now I realise the cost of the wedding is NOT the most important factor (our total was under £4500, not including the honeymoon), BUT if you have your total budget up front it makes it a lot easier to deceide what to do and not to do, where you can cut corners and where you would like to really spend the money.

Above all never forget this is YOUR day (both of you that is). If you two don't feel right about an idea from a relative/friend then tell them, now!

Book the Church/Honeymoon/party venue, everything revolves around these. We had to move the wedding date by one week to fit in with the honeymoon! Unless you pick the very busy season for weddings, you should be able to change the date with the Church with no problem.

As we are traveling to the UK (from Denmark, where we live!) the evening of the wedding (the wedding starts at 11am!!), we could not have a night party. Also we did not feel like having a 80' disco night, eek! So we have booked a resturant.

Booking the resturant was easy too, think about the guests first. Are there some guests that we hate fish? Then list out say 10 - 20 places that you either know are good or think are good. Go see them, do they sound like they have done this before? Does it fit your budget? Don't worry about matching table clothes to the wedding dress! Don't over analyze it, you could spend for ever checking the details. The main question should be 'does it feel right?'

Keep a check of what you have booked/payed for and what you still need to do. Try to as much as possible in the early stages after your partner has agreed to get married.

We have only invitied our parents/brothers from our family, this is not because we dislike the rest (no really), but it is because we wanted to be with our friends on our wedding day.

Another good tips, no kids!

We made our on invites using Adobe Photoshop! Looked very good. We also created some information sheets. These detailed the menu at the resturant, gift list, places to stay (as most are traveling), dress code(just as an idea) and timings of the day.

Another good thing we did was to pick two friends of ours for best woman (yes that's right woman!) and bridesmaid that have so much energy, that you could power Copenhagen for a week off them!! The great thing is that they will 'take care' of Åsa and I during the day and keep an eye on what should be happening.

Easy eh? It can be really. More importantly is that it can be fun planning the day together, but also important is splitting up the tasks.

/OB1